Shabbat Shalom from Russia!
Shabbat Shalom from Moscow!
Eighty PAS travelers, representing 20 families, are traveling in Israel on the third PAS Young Family Israel trip. With them are Rabbi Cosgrove, Rabbi Witkovsky, Cantor Schwartz, and Beryl Chernov. Follow their adventures here!
Monday, June 22: Kings and Rebels in the Desert of Judah
Our first experience of the day was ascending Masada in a cable car. What a view!
Once on top, we learned about the significance of this spot to Jewish history. The younger kids also witnessed the telepathic powers of Rabbis Cosgrove and Witkovsky! After another aerial view of the area as we descended, we headed
to the Dead Sea for swimming, floating and mud.
We finished the day with camel rides, dinner, drumming and dancing at the tent of Abraham our Father.
With bittersweet emotions we prepare for our last day tomorrow.
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Sunday, June 21: Mitzvah Project and Tel Aviv Tour
We just got back from a great day in Tel Aviv!
This morning on our way from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv we went to Ne'ot Kedumim to learn about ancient life in Israel. Our executive director Beryl Chernov had a chance to show us how to herd sheep (which he learned how to do on the 2012 staff trip). He was incredible!
After arriving in Tel Aviv, we had lunch on Rothschild Street followed by a fun and clever scavenger hunt created by our guide Yishai. After some beach time, we ate dinner at the namal, the port area.
It was a fun day and we are all hitting the hay early to prepare for Masada tomorrow!
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Saturday evening, June 20: Shabbat in Jerusalem
Shavua tov! Wishing everyone a wonderful week.
We just spent a delightful, relaxing and meaningful Shabbat in Jerusalem. People “shul hopped” in the morning and had the opportunity to pray at one of the many different synagogues in Jerusalem, hitting some of the clergy's favorite places (and counting how many famous people Rabbi Cosgrove knows in a Jerusalem minyan).
We had a learning session and lunch at the Fuchsberg Center and Conservative Yeshiva. In the afternoon, we had a fun scavenger hunt, which allowed us to get to know the city of Jerusalem. We concluded our Shabbat together with a group study session led by Rabbi Witkovsky and a beautiful havdalah service led by Cantor Schwartz.
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Friday, June 19: Excavating and Touring in the Hills of Judah
Shabbat Shalom!
A quick post before we head out for Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall. Today was eventful. The parents went to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust memorial) while the kids went to Ein Yael Craft Center for activities. After meeting for lunch we toured the Israel Museum.
Now we are back at the hotel getting ready for Shabbat. We are looking forward to a meaningful and restful Shabbat in Jerusalem!
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Thursday, June 18: Jerusalem
Today was our first full day in Jerusalem and we really made the most of our time! We began our day at the Old City, walking through the Jaffa Gate and along the walls of Jerusalem. We learned about the history of the ancient walls and arches as we walked through the different gates and saw the city from different perspectives. Rabbi Cosgrove read us a Yehuda Amichai poem that reminded us to look not just at the structures, but at the people as well. We walked through the Zion Gate and into the Jewish Quarter. We all had the opportunity to pray and put notes into the Western Wall, many for the first time.
After lunch in the Old City we went to Beit Guvrin for an archaeological dig which was lots of fun. We even got to crawl (and I mean crawl) through a newly discovered cave that has yet to be excavated!
We finished up with a pizza party for the kids with Cantor Schwartz and Rabbi Witkovsky while the parents went out for dinner and an informative discussion with guest speaker Gil Hoffman.
We are looking forward to our Friday and Kabbalat Shabbat in Jerusalem as a community.
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Wednesday, June 17: The Kinneret and Jerusalem
This morning, we checked out of our hotel up north and drove to the Hula Valley Nature Reserve where we enjoyed a scenic bicycle ride and saw birds, turtles, catfish and donkeys! After our bike rides, we headed to a water park on the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee.
The final destination for the day was Jerusalem. As we entered the city, we stopped at a scenic overlook on Mt. Scopus where we could view the city and take in its beauty. Cantor Schwartz led us in the traditional blessings said when approaching Jerusalem, Sheheheyanu and Borei p'ri ha-gefen. We also took a great group photo! When we got to the hotel, there was a surprise dessert reception for some of our birthday girls, and then we went out to sample local restaurants for dinner.
It was very moving to arrive in Jerusalem as a group and take in the expanse of the city rich with Jewish history and tradition. We are looking forward to spending the next few days exploring both the ancient and modern parts of Jerusalem.
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Tuesday, June 16: Family fun in the Galilee
Today after breakfast we drove to the scenic Mount Bental – overlooking a war-torn Syria. We learned about the Golan Heights and the challenges of the Yom Kippur War. We also learned about the situation in Syria today, which we could hear and see from the mountain.
After lunch, we went to the Bat Ya’ar Ranch where we baked pita and rode horses. Many of us pushed ourselves on the high ropes course: kids who couldn't even reach all the ropes and parents wearing flip flops! Everyone had a great time! In the evening, those who still had enough energy went on a Night Safari jeep ride, which began along the slopes of the Golan Heights. We saw so many different animals, including foxes and wildcats.
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Monday, June 15: The Majestic Golan Heights
We had an amazing first day in Israel! While some of us are still getting over our jet lag, we all began our day at the springs and waterfall of the Banias, one of the sources of water for the Jordan River. We enjoyed a beautiful nature walk/hike. Some of our older travelers learned about ecology both ancient and modern from our guide Koren and others of us saw beautiful trees and river trout!
Before lunch, we enjoyed homemade chocolate when we visited the De Karina chocolate factory in Ein Zivan. The factory makes handmade chocolates, and those who went had a blast making and tasting chocolate! Bonus points awarded to Marc Winthrop and Rabbi Witkovsky for making PAS-themed chocolate bars! Chocolate was followed by rafting and kayaking down the Jordan River.
This evening we are looking forward to a group barbecue dinner and then some much-needed rest so that we can enjoy another great day in Israel.
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Sunday, June 14: Arrival in Israel
We have arrived in Israel! After a long plane ride, we have arrived safely and are thrilled to be here. We met our Israeli staff at the airport and headed up north to Hotel Kfar Blum in the Galilee. We are looking forward to waking up on Monday to a scrumptious kibbutz breakfast and our first full day in Israel.
Off to get a good night’s rest! Lailah tov!